Abuja, Nigeria – July 22, 2025 – The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, QU Dongyu, has announced the appointment of Dr. Hussein Gadain as the new FAO Representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Dr. Gadain officially resumed duty in Nigeria on July 8, 2025, bringing over 30 years of experience in natural resource management, food security, and sustainable agriculture across Africa and the Middle East.
Before his new posting, Dr. Gadain served as FAO’s Representative in Yemen, where he led one of the organization’s largest emergency response programmes, supporting food system recovery and resilience in conflict-affected areas.
In his new role, Dr. Gadain will provide strategic leadership for FAO’s operations in Nigeria, working closely with the Nigerian government, development partners, and local stakeholders. He will oversee the implementation of the FAO Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2023–2027, which prioritizes climate-smart agriculture, nutrition improvement, rural development, and sustainable livelihoods.
> “Nigeria is a country of immense potential and complexity,” said Dr. Gadain. “I am honoured to serve the people and government of Nigeria and look forward to working with all partners at national, subnational, and community levels to strengthen resilient food systems.”
Dr. Gadain’s appointment comes at a critical time as Nigeria continues to tackle food insecurity, climate change, and the recovery of conflict-affected communities, particularly in the North-East region.
FAO remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s path toward a more food-secure, climate-resilient, and agriculturally productive future.
